E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Chiar-oscuro [pronounce ke-ar-ros-ku’-ro].
A style of painting now called “black and white.”
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“Chiar-oscuro … . is the art of representing light in shadow and shadow in light, so that the parts represented in shadow shall still have the clearness and warmth of those in light; and those in light, the depth and softness of those in shadow.”—Chambers: Encyclopœdia, iii. p. 171.
